Marsalis Music - justin faulkerhttp://www.marsalismusic.com/taxonomy/term/351/0
en'An Evening with Branford Marsalis’ at George Mason University’s Center for the Artshttp://www.marsalismusic.com/news/evening-branford-marsalis%E2%80%99-george-mason-university%E2%80%99s-center-arts
<p>Publication: <a href="http://www.dcmetrotheaterarts.com/2014/04/13/evening-branford-marsalis-george-mason-universitys-center-arts/" target="_blank">DC Metro Theater Arts</a><br />
Author: Marlene Hall<br />
Date: April 13, 2014<br />
<br />
Seeing one of Jazz’ masters like Branford <span data-scayt_word="Marsalis" data-scaytid="1">Marsalis</span>&nbsp;perform is one of life’s greatest pleasures. I had the honor of watching jazz great <span data-scayt_word="Marsalis" data-scaytid="2">Marsalis</span> at George Mason Performing Arts Center Saturday night. <span data-scayt_word="Marsalis" data-scaytid="3">Marsalis</span> and his quartet played mostly songs from their new album <em>Four <span data-scayt_word="MFs" data-scaytid="4">MFs</span> <span data-scayt_word="Playin’" data-scaytid="5">Playin’</span> Tunes</em>.<br />
<br />
<span data-scayt_word="Marsalis" data-scaytid="6">Marsalis</span> is a renowned saxophonist and composer. <span data-scayt_word="Marsalis" data-scaytid="7">Marsalis</span> is a three time Grammy winner, a 2010 Tony nominee and 2010 Drama Desk Award winner for the music for the Broadway revival of August Wilson’s Fences. He has released more than 20 recordings, including his most recent, 2012’s Four <span data-scayt_word="MFs" data-scaytid="8">MFs</span> <span data-scayt_word="Playin’" data-scaytid="9">Playin’</span>&nbsp;Tunes.</p>
<p>I overheard an audience member comment how <span data-scayt_word="Marsalis" data-scaytid="14">Marsalis</span> has incredible breath control and my professional musician friend, said, “His sound is pure.” We got to watch and hear a genius play that&nbsp;night.</p>
<p>The musicians were: Joey <span data-scayt_word="Calderazzo" data-scaytid="18">Calderazzo</span> on piano; Eric <span data-scayt_word="Revis" data-scaytid="20">Revis</span> on bass; Justin Faulkner on drums, and Mr. <span data-scayt_word="Marsalis" data-scaytid="16">Marsalis</span> on saxophone. <span data-scayt_word="Calderazzo" data-scaytid="19">Calderazzo</span> was seated on the left and had his back to the audience, so we could see his fancy finger work. <span data-scayt_word="Marsalis" data-scaytid="17">Marsalis</span> was front and center and the bass player behind him. On the right was drummer Faulkner, who shared the spotlight with all the musicians. It was nice to see he wasn’t hidden in the back like many drummers I have seen in other&nbsp;concerts.</p>
<div class="field-reference-artist">
<a href="/branford-marsalis">Branford Marsalis</a>
</div>
<div class="field-reference-release">
<a href="/releases/4mfs">Four MFs Playin&#039; Tunes</a>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.marsalismusic.com/news/evening-branford-marsalis%E2%80%99-george-mason-university%E2%80%99s-center-arts" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.marsalismusic.com/news/evening-branford-marsalis%E2%80%99-george-mason-university%E2%80%99s-center-arts#commentsBranford MarsalisBranford Marsalis Quarteteric revisfour mfs playin' tunesJoey Calderazzojustin faulkerMon, 14 Apr 2014 17:40:59 +0000Courtney2537 at http://www.marsalismusic.comBranford Marsalis Quartet, 'Four MFs Playin' Tunes'http://www.marsalismusic.com/news/branford-marsalis-quartet-four-mfs-playin-tunes
<p>Publication: <a href="http://articles.boston.com/2012-08-07/music/33067456_1_branford-marsalis-quartet-joey-calderazzo-classic-quartet" target="_blank">Boston Globe</a><br />
Author: <span data-scayt_word="Siddartha" data-scaytid="1">Siddartha</span> <span data-scayt_word="Mitter" data-scaytid="4">Mitter</span><br />
Date: August 7, 2012<br />
<br />
That sure is a silly album title — it’s amusing now, but how will it sound some years down the line? This is an issue because “Four <span data-scayt_word="MFs" data-scaytid="11">MFs</span> <span data-scayt_word="Playin’" data-scaytid="12">Playin’</span> Tunes” may have some staying power: a tight set of well-slung tunes that show the elements of a classic quartet outing in nice balance. In recruiting 20-year-old Justin Faulkner to the drummer’s chair, Branford <span data-scayt_word="Marsalis" data-scaytid="13">Marsalis</span> injected his quartet with fresh spirit; a lithe, quizzing <span data-scayt_word="dialogue" data-scaytid="15">dialogue</span> between Faulkner and pianist Joey <span data-scayt_word="Calderazzo" data-scaytid="16">Calderazzo</span> prevails throughout, and especially on the second half of “Whiplash,” the energetic centerpiece. A spiffy take on <span data-scayt_word="Thelonious" data-scaytid="17">Thelonious</span> Monk’s <span data-scayt_word="“Teo”" data-scaytid="18">“Teo”</span> and a lovely Sidney <span data-scayt_word="Bechet" data-scaytid="19">Bechet</span> homage, “Treat It Gentle,” establish lineage; other highlights include an angular blues, “Brews,” by bassist Eric <span data-scayt_word="Revis" data-scaytid="20">Revis</span>, and <span data-scayt_word="Calderazzo’s" data-scaytid="21">Calderazzo’s</span> searching ballad “As Summer Into Autumn Slips.” The album’s approach is familiar, conservative perhaps, but the music has soul — particularly when <span data-scayt_word="Marsalis" data-scaytid="14">Marsalis</span> wields the soprano sax — and the net effect, title aside, is wholly&nbsp;satisfying.</p>
<div class="field-reference-artist">
<a href="/branford-marsalis">Branford Marsalis</a>
</div>
<div class="field-reference-release">
<a href="/releases/4mfs">Four MFs Playin&#039; Tunes</a>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.marsalismusic.com/news/branford-marsalis-quartet-four-mfs-playin-tunes" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.marsalismusic.com/news/branford-marsalis-quartet-four-mfs-playin-tunes#commentsBranford Marsalis Quartetfour mfs playin' tunesjustin faulkersoprano saxpressWed, 08 Aug 2012 15:07:59 +0000Courtney2182 at http://www.marsalismusic.comBranford Marsalis' saxy 'MFs'http://www.marsalismusic.com/news/branford-marsalis-saxy-mfs
<p class="inside-copy">Publication: <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/story/2012-08-06/listen-up-branford-marsalis/56851604/1" target="_blank">USA Today</a><br />
Author: Steve Jones<br />
Date: August 7, 2012<br />
<br />
<span data-scayt_word="Marsalis" data-scaytid="1">Marsalis</span> has always been one of the more accessible jazz musicians, and this latest offering from his tightly-knit band is up to its usual high&nbsp;standards.</p>
<p class="inside-copy">Joining <span data-scayt_word="Marsalis" data-scaytid="2">Marsalis</span> are pianist Joey <span data-scayt_word="Calderazzo" data-scaytid="4">Calderazzo</span> and bassist Eric <span data-scayt_word="Revis" data-scaytid="5">Revis</span>, but this is their first album without drummer Jeff &#8220;<span data-scayt_word="Tain" data-scaytid="6">Tain</span>&#8221; Watts, who left in 2009 after more than 20 years in the group. Drummer Justin Faulkner, who has played concert dates with them for the past three years, makes his recording debut with the&nbsp;quartet.</p>
<p class="inside-copy">The <span data-scayt_word="Calderazzo" data-scaytid="7">Calderazzo</span> composition <i>The Mighty Sword</i> kicks things off in energetic fashion and establishes the conversational interplay between the musicians that is evident throughout the album. The pianist also contributes the lovely <i>As Summer Into Autumn Slips</i> and both <span data-scayt_word="Marsalis" data-scaytid="9">Marsalis</span> (<i>Whiplash</i>, <i><span data-scayt_word="Endymion" data-scaytid="12">Endymion</span></i>, <i>Treat It Gentle</i>) and <span data-scayt_word="Revis" data-scaytid="10">Revis</span> (<i>Brews</i>, <i><span data-scayt_word="Maestra" data-scaytid="14">Maestra</span></i>) offer originals of their&nbsp;own.</p>
<p class="inside-copy">The band presents a variety of moods, but there is always a certain joy in the music they&nbsp;make.</p>
<div class="field-image">
<img class="imagefield imagefield-field_image" width="857" height="857" title="Four MFs" alt="Four MFs" src="/sites/default/files/blog/images/four_mfs_playin_tunes-bmq-cover_smaller.jpg" />
</div>
<div class="field-reference-artist">
<a href="/branford-marsalis">Branford Marsalis</a>
<a href="/joey-calderazzo">Joey Calderazzo</a>
</div>
<div class="field-reference-release">
<a href="/releases/4mfs">Four MFs Playin&#039; Tunes</a>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.marsalismusic.com/news/branford-marsalis-saxy-mfs" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.marsalismusic.com/news/branford-marsalis-saxy-mfs#commentsBranford Marsalis Quarteteric revisfour mfs playin tunesJoey Calderazzojustin faulkermarsalis musicpressTue, 07 Aug 2012 20:35:10 +0000Ben2180 at http://www.marsalismusic.comOn Music: Branford Marsalishttp://www.marsalismusic.com/news/music-branford-marsalis
<p>Publication: <a href="http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2011/12/08/branford-marsalis/" target="_blank">The Paris Review Daily</a><br />
Author: Sam Stephenson<br />
Date: December 8, 2011<br />
<img alt="" src="http://marsalismusic.com/sites/default/files/blog/images/stage-panorama-1024x500.jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 269px; margin: 10px;" title="" /></p>
<p>It’s sixty-two degrees and raining in downtown Durham, North Carolina, on a Tuesday in mid-October. At noon members of the Branford Marsalis Quartet gather at the former St. Joseph’s African Methodist Episcopal church, built in 1891, now converted into the <span data-scayt_word="Hayti" data-scaytid="2">Hayti</span> Heritage Center, an arts-and-community nonprofit. Their goal is to record a new album over the next few&nbsp;days.</p>
<p>When <span data-scayt_word="Marsalis" data-scaytid="3">Marsalis</span> moved his family to Durham from New York a decade ago, the local press assumed he was replacing the retiring director of Duke’s jazz department, saxophonist Paul Jeffrey. But <span data-scayt_word="Marsalis" data-scaytid="4">Marsalis</span>, who&#8217;d grown up in Louisiana, simply wanted to return to the South and picked Raleigh-Durham because the area had an airport large enough to get him anywhere he needed to go. Later, he began teaching part-time in the noted jazz program at the historically black North Carolina Central University, which is a mile down the road from <span data-scayt_word="Hayti" data-scaytid="5">Hayti</span>.</p>
<p>The original St. Joseph’s sanctuary remains intact: a wood-plank stage, hardwood pews, a balcony, chandeliers, and lots of stained glass. <span data-scayt_word="Marsalis" data-scaytid="9">Marsalis</span> began recording albums here in 2006 when he noticed that the room had a unique quality: there is no reverb at low decibel levels; it grows gradually with the&nbsp;sound.</p>
<p>His road manager, Roderick Ward, and sound engineer, Rob Hunter—who have been with <span data-scayt_word="Marsalis" data-scaytid="11">Marsalis</span> for twenty-seven and twenty-two years, respectively—spent two days creating a recording studio on the sanctuary’s stage and in adjoining rooms, hauling in seventy crates of equipment and cables and renting a Steinway grand from Hopper Piano and Organ in Raleigh. It’s the sixth time they’ve transformed this space. The advantage of working in <span data-scayt_word="Hayti" data-scaytid="12">Hayti</span>, says Hunter, is that “we can build a studio the way we want to, rather than trying to adapt to an established studio’s specifications.” “The disadvantage,” he adds, chuckling, “is that we have to build a&nbsp;studio.”</p>
<p>I asked <span data-scayt_word="Marsalis" data-scaytid="15">Marsalis</span> if he had planned any overarching themes for this recording session. “Musicians who talk about their<em> concept</em>—that’s why all their songs sound the same,” he said. “We select good songs and we play them to the best of our ability. Then we move on to another song and do it again. That’s our&nbsp;concept.”</p>
<div class="field-image">
<img class="imagefield imagefield-field_image" width="1024" height="500" alt="" src="/sites/default/files/blog/images/stage-panorama-1024x500.jpg" />
</div>
<div class="field-reference-artist">
<a href="/branford-marsalis">Branford Marsalis</a>
</div>
<div class="field-reference-release">
<a href="/releases/braggtown">Braggtown</a>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.marsalismusic.com/news/music-branford-marsalis" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.marsalismusic.com/news/music-branford-marsalis#commentsBranford Marsalishayti heritage centerjustin faulkerpressThu, 08 Dec 2011 21:11:45 +0000Courtney1911 at http://www.marsalismusic.com